I'm in West Arkansas, ( kinda near to East Texas...
), and I travel I-30, I-40, I-55, and I-57 until just before Chicago. Then turn East on US-30, North on US-31, then East on US-20 and South on US-33. The last part on the US hwys is a little bit circular, but really good roads.
As for over-night spots, I use Hazen, AR, Sikeston, MO, and Champaign, IL.